Today's has all the makings of what is called a "trap" game. The Bearcats, after all, have the showdown for the Big East title with Pittsburgh next week. But first they face Illinois in a non-conference game at Nippert Stadium Friday at noon. The game is sold out.

Illinois is 3-7 but dangerous.

"Everybody looks at their record, and if you haven't watched them on film or you haven't watched them play, you'd say this is not a very good football team," Kelly said.

"First of all, they've had a number of injuries."

Two of those players are quarterback Juice Williams and receiver Arrelious Benn.

Williams was second-team all-Big Ten last year and led the Illini to the Rose Bowl the season before.

Benn was first-team all-Big Ten last year and a unanimous first-team All-America pick in the preseason.

Kelly expects both to play.

"They've got their players back," he said. "This is a talented football team, two years removed from a Rose Bowl berth. They're a good football team. They've got talent on both sides of the ball. It's a great challenge for our football team."

The game will be Senior Day. Sixteen UC seniors will play in their final game at home.

"Last go-round for our seniors at Nippert Stadium," Kelly said. "They've meant so much to our program. Three consecutive 10-plus-win seasons for this senior class has put them in a select group."

The game also will mark the return of senior quarterback Tony Pike. Pike is starting after missing four starts with an injury to his left (non-throwing) arm.

"Everything is good," Pike said. "I'm back to where I was before the injury."

Kelly preaches the one-day-at-a-time approach as all coaches do, but the players seem to be buying in and not looking past Illinois.

"It's an exciting game for us," said wide receiver Mardy Gilyard. "It's a Big Ten team. They've got a losing record, but they have some talent on offense and defense. Their record could easily be flip-flopped."

Kelly believes his program is at the point where beating a Big Ten school doesn't enhance its status.

"Not really," Kelly said. "We've played top-notch opponents. From our end, we don't have to play those games anymore; we just have to keep winning. When you've won 16 consecutive regular-season games, it's hard to say one game is going to define you."

But if UC wants to achieve its larger goals, today's game is one it must win.

"Coach Kelly laid out a scenario where it's possible that Cincinnati could make the national championship," Pike said.

Part of that scenario certainly did not include a loss to Illinois.

"The guys understand that we have to take care of Illinois first," Pike said. "That's what our focus has been - day by day, taking care of business."

Kelly doesn't think the constant speculation about his future has taken the players' minds off the business at hand.

"They've practiced well all week," he said. "I've told them and I'll continue to tell them if I have anything to tell, they'll hear it from me first. They trust me.

"If there's anything I need to talk about, we'll talk about it as a football team. There's nothing to talk about. We move onto the next practice."

"I can only be honest with them. This is the silly season. We've been having this conversation for the last two years. ... It will continue to happen while I'm at the University of Cincinnati, because nobody thinks Cincinnati is a destination job. It just happens that way."